Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: Mod7
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Chapter 8 - Feast
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When I first met His Majesty, I thought I would be replacing him.
After all, his intense fear, his frantic pleas, suggested a creature sensing its impending doom.
“I’m still perfectly healthy! How dare you bring another male here, to mock me?!”
We approached his throne, ignoring his pathetic outburst.
If he had any real authority, someone would have stopped us…
But no one moved.
“What are you all doing?! Stop them, quickly!”
“Your Majesty, while it is our duty to obey your commands, we cannot interfere with the priestess’s sacred duty.”
Aaptukemen was a strange place.
I had expected them to capture and enslave all males, treating them like livestock, but seeing the trembling King, I wasn't so sure.
But he clearly held no real power. It didn't take long to realize his throne was merely symbolic.
“Oh, isn’t tonight the royal birthday feast? I don’t want to be… taken away…”
He was pathetic, his pleas childish and undignified.
He whimpered like a child begging its parents for mercy.
“Your Majesty, this man is not your successor. He is a tribute, chosen by the sun.”
Nefer knelt before him.
Even though he sat on a raised platform, his throne towering above her,
I knew their positions were reversed.
The fear in his eyes vanished as soon as Nefer spoke, replaced by a wide, almost manic grin.
“What?! A tribute! A tribute has arrived!”
He practically danced down the steps,
Then grabbed my hand, shaking it enthusiastically.
“Yes! Oh, yes! Welcome! Guards! A new tribute has arrived in Aaptukemen!”
…It wasn't a pleasant greeting.
The word “tribute” made me cringe.
Its connotations, its implications, were far from positive. They saw me as a [new male], a [tool], a [means to an end].
Only Nefer, sensing my discomfort, cleared her throat, and His Majesty, realizing his overenthusiastic display, sheepishly released my hand.
“Ahem! Ahem! Uh, well… yes, my apologies. I seem to have gotten… carried away.”
He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure, his dignity.
“Welcome to Aaptukemen, stranger! This city, surrounded by a beautiful desert, is steeped in history and brimming with a rich culture.”
But his efforts couldn't erase the initial impression. His personality, his demeanor, weren't appealing, and I could only manage a strained smile.
The other women likely felt the same way.
The guards, armed with spears and other weapons, were clearly strong and capable.
It was ironic, almost comical, that they served such a pathetic excuse for a king.
“Tonight, we feast! A celebration of my birthday, and a blessing for our newly arrived guest!”
His Majesty grabbed my hand again, practically skipping with excitement.
It seemed I had stumbled into a rather tedious situation.
***
Evening, Day 129 of isolation.
17:22, planetary rotation standard.
Clear skies.
26°C, warm.
Note - Maintain adequate fluid intake. Beware of respiratory issues due to dryness and fine particles.
His Majesty had promised a grand feast to celebrate his birthday, but witnessing the preparations, I couldn't muster much enthusiasm.
It was underwhelming.
The only food was a whole roasted creature I had never seen before. It had resembled a mole before being cooked, and I doubted it would be very appetizing.
And a single bottle of alcohol.
Something resembling beer, its foamy head rising in the bottle, was poured into five small cups, and His Majesty hummed a tune.
“Today is my birthday~ So, you. What’s your name?”
“…Juho.”
“Juho! What an interesting name. Very well. Juho, I hereby declare you my honored guest!”
Honored guest, birthday, feast…
The words didn’t match the modest setting.
His Majesty seemed oblivious to my disappointment, or perhaps he was simply pretending, putting on a brave face.
“Ah! There they are! My friends have arrived!”
He bustled around, arranging the food and preparing for the feast, his face a mask of forced cheer, sweat beading on his forehead.
And his “friends,” whom he greeted so enthusiastically,
“Uh… g-greetings…”
All resembled him. Thin, nervous, their eyes darting around, their demeanor suggesting a deep-seated anxiety.
And they all had one thing in common:
They were all male.
Different species,
Different appearances,
But we recognized each other instantly, [males] from different worlds, our shared status evident in a single glance.
“Welcome! Come, sit!”
His Majesty, among the other males, seemed almost energetic, charismatic. I couldn't help but stare at him.
A strange tension filled the room. The guards, their faces impassive, watched us intently.
Their weapons were ready, their gazes sharp, as if they would attack at the slightest provocation.
And I, along with the other males, sat at a long table. The only thing that seemed remotely luxurious in this setting was the long, oval table.
Even Nefer wasn't allowed to join us.
She stood in the background, her gaze fixed on me, a hint of concern in her eyes.
This feast was a male-only gathering, and if she had sat with me, she would have drawn unwanted attention from the other females.
I met her gaze several times, but I didn't dare leave the table or draw attention to myself.
There was no need to stand out. Some of the guards sneered and mocked us, but I ignored them.
“This is Juho, our newest arrival! He’s not a new male, but a tribute, chosen to be presented to the sun. A fortunate fellow, indeed!”
His Majesty introduced me to the other males. But despite his cheerful tone, their gazes were filled with pity and a quiet despair.
“Everyone, applaud! Yes, clap! Good…”
Clap, clap, clap-
After the half-hearted applause,
His Majesty approached me, slung his arm around my shoulders, and whispered in my ear.
“…Smile, young man.”
For the first time,
His voice wasn't tinged with a frantic, childish energy.
“Yes, why don’t you smile?”
But perhaps someone had overheard him,
Because a figure entered the room.
She didn't have a snake’s tail,
But like the other guards, she had ears and a tail,
And like Nefer, she wore an elaborate veil.
But the patterns and decorations were different.
It seemed the desert women used their veils to denote their status and rank.
Nefer and the newcomer exchanged greetings, bowing their heads.
“Nefer.”
“Homunculus.”
I studied the woman’s appearance and voice, memorizing every detail. I didn't need to remember her name.
When observing a new species, the most important thing was to analyze its behavior, its appearance, its characteristics.
Names were secondary. While it was helpful to remember them, it wasn't essential.
But even after careful observation, I couldn't determine her age.
While I suspected her face, hidden beneath the veil, was wrinkled with age, her body seemed surprisingly young.
But her gaze was even more intense than Nefer’s.
It surpassed even Arachne’s predatory stare, its power making me instinctively cower.
I didn't need words to understand that she was a powerful figure. Her mere presence shifted the atmosphere within the sandstone palace.
“A new tribute?”
Again.
The word “tribute.”
It grated on my nerves every time I heard it.
It held no positive connotations, and yet they used it casually, without a second thought.
I was deeply offended,
But I couldn't show it. I didn't want to imagine what they would do to me if I angered them.
“Hmm. What a shame. He seems like a decent male.”
This wasn’t a friendly place.
His Majesty’s behavior,
The other males’ expressions,
Nothing reassured me.
“Well, such sacrifices are necessary to appease the sun.”
This was Aaptukemen.
A place where something had gone terribly wrong…